When planning your wedding, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the details -- and the need to please many people at once. By comparison, planning the honeymoon is unencumbered joy; it is a vacation, after all, and it's just for the two of you.

Wherever you go, make major reservations -- air, hotel, and rental car -- at least six months in advance. Popular honeymoon sites can be booked as far as a year in advance, especially during peak seasons such as summer or holidays.

Budgeting and Brainstorming
Do not go into debt to finance the honeymoon. Figure out what you have -- or can save -- and use that as your guideline. Then you can start talking about where you want to go. It could be a South Seas getaway with nothing but a bungalow and miles of beach, or you may prefer to spend your first weeks together shooting the rapids in the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Try to anticipate your state of mind just after the wedding. All couples are ecstatic, but some feel emotionally and physically exhausted after going through such a life-changing event. Before embarking on a 12-day, 12-city European tour, you should remember that you'll want to set aside time in your travels to enjoy each other.

Research
Spend a Saturday at the bookstore, browsing through travel books and jotting down the names of intriguing places. Explore the Internet, which offers seemingly limitless information on places to stay and things to do. Many countries and states have official websites, where browsers can request brochures and maps to be sent to their homes. Or stop by a travel agency, and fish through brochures in person. You shouldn't expect to make any decisions overnight -- take a few weeks to have fun dreaming.

After you've narrowed your search, start pricing destinations and determining the availability of transportation and accommodations for each trip. You can continue to get information online, start making phone calls on your own, or use a good travel agent. Get the recommendations of friends or family, or call the American Society of Travel Agents (800-965-2782) to find one in the area. A travel agent will be able take care of all the details: booking flights, accommodations, and any necessary ground transportation.

Finalizing Your Plans
When you are ready to reserve plane tickets, hotel rooms, a car, and other necessities, consider making reservations for activities such as scuba diving, attending the theater, visiting a museum, or dining at a special restaurant. If any of these activities require advance planning, ask your travel agent for assistance; or if you are staying in a hotel or resort, call a couple of months before your arrival to ask if there is a concierge.